After an early morning raid of her apartment, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission returned to the Lekki residence of Big Brother Naija Lockdown housemate, Dorathy Bachor, on Monday and whisked the entrepreneur away for interrogation, The PUNCH has learnt.
The former housemate in the 2020 edition of BBNaija television reality show had taken to her Instastory on Monday, to reveal that EFCC operatives broke into her Lekki residence in Lagos around 5am.
According to the star, the anti-graft officials broke into her house, saying they were after a suspected internet fraudster.
The EFCC later confirmed the invasion in a statement on Monday, stating that “operatives from the Lagos Command of the Commission, acting on verified intelligence, executed a Search Warrant at a block of flats located in the Lekki area of Lagos on Monday, 23rd August, 2021 during which nine internet fraud suspects were arrested.
“Ms. Bachor’s apartment happened to be one of the flats in the building.
“EFCC operatives had knocked on her (Dorathy’s) entrance door, identified themselves as being from the Commission on a mission to execute a Search Warrant. But they were refused entry, for several minutes by Bachor’s sister.
“The operatives were left with no choice than to force their way in, lest suspects escape or destroy vital evidence.”
Though the EFCC claimed nine suspected internet fraudsters were arrested in the building housing Dorathy’s flat, no suspect was specifically arrested in the BBN star’s apartment. The agency did not also release the details of the suspect arrested in the other flats in the building.
Hours later, EFCC officials subsequently returned to whisk Dorathy away for interrogation.
Dorathy’s sister, Cynthia Bachor told The PUNCH on Wednesday that the BBN star was subsequently released.
Cynthia, however, declined further comments on the matter but said, “She (Dorathy) is now fine”.
Efforts to reach spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.
This is not the first time the anti-graft agency would be accused of random highhandedness or breaking into people’s homes and hotel rooms in the dead of the night, without showing a warrant.
On July 13, 2021, EFCC operatives broke into Parktonian Hotel in the Lekki area of Lagos. During the raid, the operatives were alleged to have gained entry into the occupants’ rooms by seizing the master cards from the management of the hotel at gunpoint.
When the EFCC operatives gained entry into the rooms, it was learnt that some of the occupants were naked under the duvet as the operatives interrogated the occupants.
“They broke into the hotel and threatened to shoot the receptionists and management workers if they didn’t immediately release the master access card to them. So, the hotel workers had to comply immediately,” an eyewitness reportedly said.
Barely a week after, a Nollywood filmmaker, Biodun Stephen, alleged that armed EFCC officials broke into her hotel room in Lagos but apologised to her when they realised that she was not the one they were after.
“They just burst into hotel rooms in the middle of the night, not caring who you are or what state you are in,” Stephen had lamented.
